Metal sleeve with precision dimples

Abstract

A spindle motor assembly that includes a sleeve which couples a disk to a motor hub. The sleeve may have a plurality of protrusions that are in contact with the disks. The sleeve and protrusions center the disk with the motor hub. Centering the disk improves the overall balance of the spindle motor assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spindle motor assembly for a hard disk drive, comprising: 
 a motor hub;    a disk; and,    a sleeve located on said motor hub and which has a plurality of protrusions that couple said disk to said motor hub.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second disk that is coupled to said motor hub by said sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a spacer that separates said first and second disks and is coupled to said motor hub by said sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , where in said sleeve has a slit.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions are dimples in said sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is constructed from a metal material.  
     
     
         7 . A hard disk drive, comprising: 
 a base plate;    a spindle motor attached to said base plate;    a first disk;    a sleeve located on said spindle motor and which has a plurality of protrusions that couple said disk to said motor hub;    an actuator arm attached to said base plate;    a head attached to said actuator arm and coupled to said disk;    a voice coil motor attached to said actuator arm.    
     
     
         8 . The hard disk drive of  claim 7 , further comprising a second disk that is coupled to said motor hub by said sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The hard disk drive of  claim 8 , further comprising a spacer that separates said first and second disks and is coupled to said motor hub by said sleeve.  
     
     
         10 . The hard disk drive of  claim 7 , wherein said sleeve has a slit.  
     
     
         11 . The hard disk drive of  claim 7 , wherein said protrusions are dimples in said sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . The hard disk drive of  claim 7 , wherein said sleeve is constructed from a metal material.  
     
     
         13 . A method for assembling a spindle motor assembly of a hard disk drive, comprising: 
 attaching a sleeve to a motor hub, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of protrusions; and,    attaching a first disk to the protrusions of the sleeve.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising attaching a spacer to the sleeve.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising attaching a second disk to the sleeve.  
     
     
         16 . A spindle motor assembly for a hard disk drive, comprising; 
 a motor hub;    a first disk; and,    a sleeve located on said motor hub, said sleeve having a plurality of protrusions between said motor hub and said first disk.    
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a second disk that is coupled to said motor hub by said sleeve.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a spacer that separates said first and second disks, wherein protrusion are located between said motor hub and said sleeve.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said sleeve has a slit.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said protrusions are dimples in said sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said sleeve is constructed from a metal material.